A former republic of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan joined the Asian Football Confederation after independence in 1992 but were accepted as a UEFA member a decade later. The ninth biggest country in the world but with a relatively small population approaching 18 million, its national football team have been involved in only two UEFA European Championship qualifying campaigns, finishing sixth out of eight teams on the road to UEFA EURO 2008 and sixth out of six four years later. FIFA World Cup qualifying has brought similar disappointment, with just five points claimed in the 2014 campaign.

Granted UEFA membership too late to participate in UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying, Kazakhstan had to wait another four years for their first taste of UEFA European Championship action. Their 2008 campaign began promisingly, Arno Pijpers' side drawing their opening fixture 0-0 in Belgium. They went on to beat Serbia 2-1 in Almaty – their first competitive win as full UEFA members – a 1-0 victory in Armenia and 2-2 draw with Belgium taking them to ten points from 14 games.

There was less to celebrate four years later in a campaign Kazakhstan started under the guidance of German coach Bernd Storck, finishing with Beránek in charge. Drawn in a section containing Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Austria and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan finished bottom of Group A with just four points, their only triumph a 2-1 home win against Azerbaijan.

Did you know?No Kazakh footballer represented the USSR until 1977 when defender Seilda Baishakov won his two caps. A decade later another defender, Evgeny Yarovenko, also made two appearances before helping the Soviet side to gold at the 1988 Olympics Games.

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